ISSA'S INVINCIBLE QUESTIONS

My son Issa just turned ten years old. Here is one of those naturally unwinding Issa-and-Mae conversations as I lay next to him in bed, just before saying goodnight . . .

Issa: Mom, if you could fly or breathe under water, which would you choose?

Mae: Fly.

I: Why?

M: Because I want to see everything from way high up above.

I: If you could be invincible or invisible, which would you choose?

M: Invincible.

I: Why?  

M: Because invincible is invincible!

I: If you could transform into any kind of animal, or if you could have every kind of animal tamed as a pet, which would you choose?

M: Transform into any kind of animal.

I: Why?

M: So that I can be wild.

I: Really? But then humans might hunt you.

M: Humans will never be able to catch me. I’ll be too wild.

I: If you could control human bodies or control human minds, which would you choose?

M: Minds.

I: Why?

M: Because if I can control human minds then I can also control their bodies.

I: That’s true.

What about . . . if you could have the power to control all plants, like roots and all, or if you could have the power to control water, which would you choose?

M: Water.

I: Why?

M: So I can control 70% of earth.

I: 72% to be exact.  

M: I love you, Issa.

I: Actually, I love you more.

M: Actually, I loved you before you even existed.

I: How? How could you love me if I didn’t have my name?

M: I loved you in my belly before you had a name.

I: Then if my daddy said, “Who do you love?” you couldn’t say anything because I didn’t have a name.

M: But I could love. And I can love . . . and I can love you even without a name, and actually that is more powerful—to love you even before a name . . .

I: Hmm . . . what can I say . . .